For a second year, Cycle Toronto is calling on all cyclists in Toronto to Ride for Jarvis. The ride, which starts this evening at Allan Gardens at 6 pm and ends at City Hall, is expected to attract hundreds of riders from across the city. The ride celebrates the bike lanes on Jarvis and protests their planned removal.

On July 13, 2011, City Council voted to remove the bike lanes on Jarvis, installed only the year before, without due public process and proper consultation with any stakeholders. In response, over 1,000 cyclists from all over Toronto gathered on Jarvis to ride in protest of that vote.

The biggest concern raised about the bike lanes prior to implementation was significant delays in travel times for motor vehicles. A staff report released in April shows that these delays have not materialized. Updated traffic counts from the City of Toronto (see page 17 of the report) showed that following the installation of bike lanes on Jarvis, motor vehicle volumes remained the same while cycling volumes tripled.

“Here’s what we know: since the installation of bike lanes on Jarvis, the number of cyclists has tripled. We’ve seen a drop in collision rates across the board, making the street safer for everyone. Scrubbing the bike lanes and re-installing the fifth reversible lane will cost a quarter million dollars,” said Jared Kolb, Director of Membership and Outreach for Cycle Toronto. “If you’re going to throw away a safer street and turn Jarvis back into a highway, you’ve got to do it legally, with due process, under public scrutiny.”

Cycle Toronto believes that it makes no sense to remove a bike lane from a street that works for all road users and has increased safety for cyclists and pedestrians. We encourage all cyclists to come out and support the Jarvis Street bike lanes!